LiDAR assembly with modularized components

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a control system for a LiDAR assembly. The control system includes a control module affixed on a printed circuit board (PCB), configured to control a transmitter and a receiver of the LiDAR assembly to emit and receive optical signals. The control system also includes an interface module affixed on a first bracket, configured to operatively couple the control module to the transmitter and the receiver. The control module and the interface module are configured to be positioned at predetermined positions of the LiDAR assembly through the PCB and the first bracket respectively.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system for a LiDAR assembly, comprising:
 a control module affixed on a printed circuit board (PCB), configured to control a transmitter and a receiver of the LiDAR assembly to emit and receive optical signals; and 
 an interface module affixed on a first bracket, configured to operatively couple the control module to the transmitter and the receiver, 
 wherein the control module and the interface module are configured to be positioned at predetermined positions of the LiDAR assembly through the PCB and the first bracket respectively. 
 
     
     
       2. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the PCB and the first bracket are configured to be affixed on a frame of the LiDAR assembly respectively through a first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism of the frame. 
     
     
       3. The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the first positioning mechanism of the frame comprises a first set of fastener holes and the PCB comprises a second set of fastener holes corresponding to the first set of fastener holes, wherein the control module is configured to be affixed to the frame through the first and the second set of fastener holes. 
     
     
       4. The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the second positioning mechanism of the frame comprises a first set of fastener holes and the first bracket comprises a second set of fastener holes corresponding to the first set of fastener holes, wherein the interface module is configured to be affixed to the frame through the first and the second set of fastener holes. 
     
     
       5. The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the control module is configured to be assembled to a top face of the frame formed by at least one horizontal beam of the frame, wherein the PCB is configured to be affixed to the at least one horizontal beam through the first positioning mechanism located on the at least one horizontal beam. 
     
     
       6. The control system of  claim 2 , wherein the interface module is configured to be assembled outside a lateral face of the frame formed by at least one vertical beam of the frame, wherein the first bracket is configured to be affixed to the at least one vertical beam through the second positioning mechanism located on the at least one vertical beam. 
     
     
       7. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface module is configured to be further connected to a power module affixed to a second bracket and positioned in the LiDAR assembly through the second bracket, wherein the interface module is configured to be connected to the power module through golden fingers, wherein the power module is configured to provide electrical power to the control system, the transmitter and the receiver. 
     
     
       8. The control system of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter and the receiver are pre-aligned and disposed on a shared base to form an integrated transmitter-receiver module, wherein the integrated transmitter-receiver module is positioned in the LiDAR assembly through the shared base. 
     
     
       9. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to drive a scanner of the LiDAR assembly to scan the emitted optical signal to form a two-dimensional (2D) field of view (FOV). 
     
     
       10. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface module is configured to be connected to the control module through golden fingers. 
     
     
       11. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface module is configured to be connected to an emitter of the transmitter through a ribbon cable, wherein the emitter is configured to emit the optical signals. 
     
     
       12. The control system of  claim 1 , wherein the interface module is configured to be connected to the receiver through a rigid flex cable, wherein the receiver is configured to receive returned optical signals. 
     
     
       13. A method for assembling a control system for a LiDAR assembly, comprising:
 assembling an interface module affixed to a first bracket at a first predetermined position of the LiDAR assembly through the first bracket; and 
 assembling a control module affixed to a PCB at a second predetermined position of the LiDAR assembly through the PCB, 
 wherein the control module is configured to control a transmitter and a receiver of the LiDAR assembly to emit and receive optical signals, and 
 wherein the control module is operatively coupled to the transmitter and the receiver through the interface module. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 assembling the interface module affixed to the first bracket comprises affixing the first bracket outside a lateral face of a frame of the LiDAR assembly through a first positioning mechanism of the frame; and 
 assembling the control module affixed to a PCB comprises affixing the PCB to a top face of the frame through a second positioning mechanism of the frame. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first positioning mechanism of the frame comprises a first set of fastener holes and the first bracket comprises a second set of fastener holes corresponding to the first set of fastener holes on the frame, wherein affixing the first bracket to the lateral face of the frame further comprises:
 fastening the first and the second set of fastener holes using fasteners. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second positioning mechanism of the frame comprises a first set of fastener holes and the PCB comprises a second set of fastener holes corresponding to the first set of fastener holes on the frame, wherein affixing the PCB to the top face of the frame further comprises:
 fastening the first and the second set of fastener holes using fasteners. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 connecting the interface module to an emitter of the transmitter using a ribbon cable; and 
 connecting the interface module to the receiver using a rigid flex cable. 
 
     
     
       18. A LiDAR assembly, comprising:
 a transmitter configured to emit optical signals to an environment surrounding the LiDAR assembly; 
 a receiver configured to detect returned optical signals from the environment; and 
 a control system configured to control operations of the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the control system comprises:
 a control module affixed on a printed circuit board (PCB), configured to control the operation of the transmitter and the receiver; and 
 an interface module affixed on a first bracket, configured to operatively couple the transmitter and the receiver with the control module, 
 wherein the control module and the interface module are positioned at predetermined positions of the LiDAR assembly through the PCB and the first bracket respectively. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The LiDAR assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the PCB and the first bracket are affixed on a frame of the LiDAR assembly respectively through a first positioning mechanism and a second positioning mechanism of the frame. 
     
     
       20. The LiDAR assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the interface module is further connected to a power module affixed to a second bracket and positioned in the LiDAR assembly through the second bracket, wherein the interface module is connected to the power module through golden fingers, wherein the power module is configured to provide electrical power to the control system, the transmitter and the receiver.